Logistics aspects were critical during the implementation of the initial phase of WFP’s assistance in Azerbaijan. Technical assistance and equipment worth US $ 1 million, were provided by WFP to make the rail and port transport routes from the ports of Poti and Batumi to Azerbaijan more efficient, thus accelerating the movement of substantial amounts of programmed food aid. The delivery strategy into a ‘pure’ emergency situation was through airlifts to Azerbaijan. As the situation became more stable, WFP switched to a more ambitious sea/overland operation, which was in turn expanded into a more complex coordination mechanism that was responsible for distributing not only WFP targeted supplementary food assistance but also took over the mandate of coordinating relief shipments and providing technical support for optimizing the use of regional port and rail systems. Given the large amount of food assistance provided to Azerbaijan through a number of donors and NGOs, WFP played a leading role in coordinating food aid activities and enhancing the flow of food-aid information (monthly statistics bulletin) in the early years.